We are thrilled to announce that a new outreach program,String Sprouts, has launched this fall in Kansas City and K.C. Strings is afounding sponsor!

String Sprouts Kansas City is starting infourfourlocations across the Kansas City metro area, each with a group of 16 four-year-olds committing to FIVE years of training on a string instrument through the String Sprouts K.C. program!

We are proud to announce that we are sponsoring String Sprouts Kansas City by providing quality instruments from our shop!

A Word from Vicki Olson,
Director of String Sprouts in K.C.

Vicki, how and when did you hear about String Sprouts? "A couple of years ago my friend and co-worker, Dan Frank, who knew Ruth Meints, founder of String Sprouts in Omaha, kept telling me: 'You need to go to Omaha and see this outreach program.' Finally I went up for a day and observed a couple classes at the Sprouts program. I was blown away at the quality and curriculum! I thought that it was a template that thought of everything, and got enthusiastic about bringing it to Kansas City!

How and why did you get involved? "The timing of my life was such that when I saw the quality of the program, it ignited something in me, wanting to bring it to K.C. This program starts the kids so young, and I believe that's what's unique about it. Also, I am a little competitive, and knowing that 1,000 students in Omaha are getting that opportunity, I felt that Kansas City has a lot of resources, and we need to do this for our community as well!

What is so special and different about Sprout Strings? "The program is based on El Sistema and the Suzuki violin method. It's El Sistima-based because it is free to underserved communities, but it also is Suzuki-based becausechildrenstart young and a caregiver or parent has to be at every lesson. That's what makes Sprouts so unique in bringing the opportunity to change these kids’ lives.

What difference do you envision it making to the future? "We all know that music education can make an impact on these kids' lives in so many ways: brain function, hand-eye coordination, their academic success,and vocabulary. Also, as a musician, I know the impact that music can have on their heart and how they see the world and see those around them!
"I can imagine the opportunity of change for the Kansas City community, if, like in Omaha, we are serving 1,000 kids in over just four years, imagine in 10 years if we are serving five to six thousand kids.

Hundreds of String Sprouts students performing with the Omaha Symphony.

"I also think that you cannot forget the fact that because the parents are at the lessons, the relationships between these children and the parents will only be enhanced. "This is more than an outreach program ... It is so well thought out and it is going to be impactful! We are starting with four sites in the community, imagine if we had 20 sites around the city and what that would do to our community!"

For more information on how you can be involved with this program, please visit:String Sprouts K.C.